Her Honor-Bound Cowboy

Cowboy Josh Baxter hadn't bargained for a feisty widow and her newborn baby when he came home to take over his family ranch. After all, he hadn't even known his brother had married. Bound by duty to care for mother and child, Josh has only one solutionmarriage.

Emily will do anything to hold on to her share of the ranch she lovesexcept agree to a proposal of convenience. But she can't deny the tender feelings that overcome her when she sees Josh holding her tiny daughter. And she isn't sure she can hold out against the handsome cowboy for long!

Chapter Three

Josh stared at the baby and tried to make sense of all he'd learned. His brother was dead and buried. This woman had been his wife. This baby was Cody's daughter. A good shake of his head did nothing to clear his thoughts.

"How did Cody meet you?"

"I was in the store when he was purchasing supplies and we struck up a conversation." Emily laid the baby in the cradle and covered her. "Shh," she soothed when the baby fussed a little. She returned to the rocking chair but gave no sign of providing any more information.

He, however, had many questions. "I didn't think Cody would ever marry."

"Oh, why is that?"

Was she really unfamiliar with Cody's past or just playing innocent? "Didn't he tell you how some gal left him standing at the altar? He was awfully bitter about it and said he'd never give his heart to another."

"I was well aware of what happened."

He stared boldly at the woman. "Must have been a fast courtship." By his calculations they'd married less than two months after he and Cody had said a temporary goodbye that had ended up longer than planned.

"We both knew what we wanted."

"Cody wanted land in the new west. What did you want?"

She didn't answer. Just gave him another of those don't-mess-with-me looks.

Why did she feel she needed to challenge him?

Young Nancy poked her head in from the kitchen. "Do you want me to do something for supper?"

"Is Nancy your sister?"

"No. Her mother left her here to help me for a few days." Her words rang with determination and more challenge.

But now he understood why she looked at him with such determination. She was a widow woman alone with a baby. A target for men who might think she was easy prey, and a lightning rod for gossip and speculation.

He cleared his throat. "Is there some place in town you can live? Even better, can you return to your folks?"

"My home is here." If her gaze grew any fiercer he feared his skin would start to sizzle.

"But you can't stay here."

"I can and I will."

"That's not possible. I'm here to take over now. I'm expecting a herd of cows to arrive in a few weeks."

She tipped her chin up. "Perhaps you should see if there's a place in town where you can live."

"Can't run a ranch from town."

"Half of this place is mine and I'm not leaving."

Protests filled his brain but she stared at him in a way that said she wasn't prepared to listen to anything he had to say.